You know it's coming when....

You know Christmas is just around the corner when...

Everywhere you go you hear this album playing. Shops, restaurants and workplaces dust off the old favourites such as Fairy Tale of New York (one of my personal favourites), Last Christmas, and Merry Xmas Everybody. We know all the words because we hear them every year. The first few times sends a festive tingle up your spine and then they just get boring again.
The Coca Cola advert appears on the TV. "Holidays are coming......." you know the one with the retro Santa and pretty truck. Is it just me or does Coke from a traditional coke bottle always taste much better than from anything else?
We dust off the Polar Express DVD that we play several times over Christmas. This year we have ordered a proper 3D version which will hopefully be here before Christmas. It really shows the true spirit of Christmas to me and the music is great too. Another of my favourites is The Grinch and will be watching that a few times too!
I've had a bottle of mulled wine in my cupboard all year but never thought of actually drinking it until the mince pies started appearing on the shelves. I do have to be careful with it as I tend to drink a little more than I should and 'hic' can get a little tipsy with the stuff. As for mince pies and Christmas cake, well I am partial to home made rather than shop bought but you'll never see me turn one down!
This has to be one of the funniest programmes on just before Christmas. There is nothing like being entertained by people scared out of their wits while scrabbling in dark holes full of creepy crawlies or gagging while chewing on a crocodile penis. Ant and Dec are as funny as the celebrities and the whole thing sets you up nicely for the long cold nights cosy and warm in your front room.

Then there are the xmas decorations plastered to the front of houses. Yes of course we did that ourselves for the first couple of years , but as the bulbs went out and the chore of making sure all three sets of lights draped across the eaves flashed in the same pattern wore thin, we went for the 'less is more' theme, ie can't be bothered any more.

But there are still those who spend the whole of November planning their lights - or as in the case of one home not far from us, just plug them all in because they never take them down. This picture is not unlike the house I just mentioned. I'm sure they could fit in a few more smaller decorations if they tried!

This year the snow has made it all seem more festive too. So last night I went to Mr Apples App store to get me a Christmassy ringtone and Christmas planner App. I was aghast to see that there are only 26 days left! REALLY??? I have only just ordered my first online present.

So today I got the cards down from the loft, added them to the new ones I bought because I forgot about the ones in the loft (as usual) and Im going to sit and write cards and add the obligatory newsletter.

At least thats a step in the right direction. yes?